Defender Dust-Up in Orange County

"Plea Bargain Riles Scorned Public Defenders" (Sept. 24) and a Sept. 25 editorial concerning the Orange County prosecution of Ana Maria Patino imply that the California Public Defenders Assn. has taken a position on that prosecution and that attorneys throughout California are involved. This is simply not true.

The California Public Defenders Assn. has not taken any position concerning the case against Patino or what should be the outcome of any charges against her. Any complaints that have been made by individual members of the association have been made by them as individuals.